A former Presidential Adviser in Nigeria has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for not addressing the country following recent strong comments made by the United States about Nigeria.
Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, who served as a senior aide in a previous administration, said the President should have spoken directly to the nation by now.
Writing on his verified Facebook page, he said silence at such a moment makes Nigeria appear weak and uncertain.
“If President Tinubu truly understands the weight of leadership, he should have spoken to Nigerians already,” he wrote.
According to him, this situation should not be left to ministers or aides.
“This is not the time for spokesmen. The President himself must explain Nigeria’s position and the actions he plans to take,” he said.
Baba-Ahmed also criticised reports suggesting that President Tinubu may be considering a visit to the United States to meet Donald Trump. He said such a move would send the wrong signal internationally.
“At this critical moment, Tinubu should not even consider travelling to America,” he said. “Doing so would make Nigeria look weak as if we were smiling after being slapped.”
He further expressed concern that more than a year after taking office, the government still has not appointed ambassadors to many countries. Baba-Ahmed said this has reduced Nigeria’s visibility and diplomatic presence internationally.
“A nation without ambassadors is practically invisible in global affairs,” he said.
He called on President Tinubu to act quickly and directly address Nigerians, while also restoring diplomatic representation abroad.
“If Tinubu listens to those who genuinely care about this nation, he must act now, speak to Nigerians, appoint ambassadors, and rebuild Nigeria’s diplomatic strength,” he added.